Present | Present | ||
President Corey Mathisen | X | Director Mike Kruse | X |
Vice President Dan Sullivan | X | Director Blake Nelson | X |
Past President Forrest Hasty | X | Director Sam Padelford | X |
Treasurer Laura Lyons | X | Director Jason Radde | X |
Secretary Benton Campbell | X | Director Mark Trogstad-Isaacson | X |
Director John Dalton | X | Executive Director Dana Wheeler | X |
Director Kevin Joyce | X | Administrative Assistant Donna Blackwell | X |
Director Mary Kloos | X | Labor Relations Specialist Tony Kelly | X |
Director Justin Kraus | X |
Others in attendance: Victor Vasas, Fernando Nacionales, Mohammad Dehdashti, Jeff Southward
Agenda
Welcome participants & guests (Corey Mathisen)
Call the Meeting to Order (Corey Mathisen)
Meeting called to order at 3:32 PM.
Review & Approve Agenda (Corey Mathisen)
Mike Kruse moves, Blake Nelson seconds. Motion passes.
Open Forum (from non-board members)
Secretary’s Report – Review & Approve Past Minutes (Benton Campbell)
- June 27 Meeting
Laura Lyons moves as edited, Mark TI seconds. Motion passes.
President’s Report (Corey Mathisen)
- Bargaining Update – Mediation
MMB sent Corey Mathisen a letter last weekend regarding MGEC inequity response. MMB reviewed data for FY22 recruitment and retention, and would like to meet with MGEC regarding this data. MMB would like to return to mediation, has discussed with Jim Michels. MGEC has agreed to a scheduled mediation date on July 29, to hear MMB’s proposal. Arbitration still scheduled 9/7-9/9. MGEC has expressed that arbitration will not be delayed, regardless of Mediation scheduling. Possibility of a meeting early next week for Board to discuss that meeting. The board and guests discussed possible outcomes.
- Meet with MGEC Update
Less attended than previous ones, word was not spread as well. Hope that scheduling for the end of October is that an arbitration award has occurred, and this information can be shared at that meeting.
- MGEC Staffing Update
Updated staff working hours and leave tables discussed and shown.
- Committee Reports
Promotional Items – Review MGEC Distinguished Citizenship award nomination. MGEC event scheduled in Mankato MnDOT office, 8/10 in Mankato. An event will be scheduled 8/17 in St. Cloud. Committee will reach out to board members to determine availability for a board social event. Committee will be pursuing small power banks and water bottles as promotional items. Committee is considering doing an in-person event to benefit and improve board relationships. 3 options were provided, and board members were polled. Laura Lyons noted this year’s budget projects a large deficit, and she wants to ensure that no final decision is made at this point. Corey Mathisen agrees, just gauging interest here. Board voted 55% willing to pay their own, 36% only if MGEC pays, 9% no. 66% of board wouldn’t want to bring others, 33% would pay for another (spouse, friend, etc.). 55% voted “something else” (i.e. picnic, grill out at office, etc.). Board agrees any event would be members’ own travel and own time. Kevin Joyce moves to award Fernando Nacionales the distinguished citizenship award, Forrest Hasty seconds. Motion passes.
Education and Technology Committee – reviewed 10 scholarship applications. In person meetings (Annual Meeting, Board recognition event, golf, Member events, etc.). Met on 7/18. Looking for board approval for their 2 recommended family member scholarship winners. Dan Sullivan moves to approve the 2 scholarships. Mary Kloos seconds. Motion passes. Connie Minetor award: Forrest Hasty moves to approve $1,000 for the winner, Kevin Joyce seconds. Motion passes. The Committee did not consider 3 applicants that did not meet the criteria. Mike Kruse moves, Laura Lyons seconds, to include “or pursuing a graduate degree” to the family member scholarship (previously only allowed entering junior or senior year of college). Motion passes. Board discussed fields that should be eligible for the scholarship, generally agreed leaving engineering as a required field of study was preferred.
Communication Committee – Met on 7/14, and will meet monthly thereafter. Will not include front line worker pay information discussed in June meeting, as the deadline to apply was 7/22. Will be redesigning and moving some things around on the website. Reviewed content approval policy at committee meeting.
Board Packet – Corey Mathisen proposed a schedule for board packet development. Board will follow the proposed timeline for the August meeting.
Executive Director’s Report (Dana Wheeler)
- Member Advocacy Update
Sounding board for employee with supervisor concerns (not union issue specifically)
Member concern on HR/LR #1445 requiring employees to file income taxes
Reallocation pay issue
Continued questions about contract, backpay, backpay in retirement, etc. Employees have 2 years from implementation of new contract to request backpay they are owed.
- COVID Update
- MnDOT Update
MnDOT offering $5,000 hiring bonus to new employees hired for the Highway Maintenance Worker vacancies. $1,000 to current MnDOT employees that refer a hired candidate.
Treasurer’s Report (Laura Lyons)
- Finance Committee Report
Jason Radde had questions on the budget sheet, answers were provided by Dana Wheeler to Jason Radde, who forwarded them to the board.
Membership Report (Donna Blackwell)
- Membership Update
Labor Relations Report (Tony Kelly)
- Supervisor Pay Differential Grievance
- Weingarten Rights
Vice President’s Report (Dan Sullivan)
- More than halfway to his transition to president. Will be working with Dana Wheeler and other past presidents to ensure smooth transition.
Past President’s Report – (Forrest hasty)
- Has updated bargaining data for other engineers (city, county, etc.)
Other updates, comments, questions, suggestions
Adjourn
Blake Nelson moves to adjourn, Forrest Hasty seconds, meeting adjourned 6:49 PM.